Authorized weed is taking endlessly | Sheneman
Remember way back in November of 2020 when we all went to the polls and permitted legalizing recreational marijuana by a vast margin? Another person really should remind Gov. Murphy, since it’s the close of January and thousands are even now being busted for pot. In November by yourself far more than 2,100 New Jerseyans ended up arrested for cannabis. In December, it was 1,700. Odd, weed does not really feel lawful?
To be reasonable, Murphy and Legal professional General Grewal have positioned a moratorium on weed prosecutions as a result of March so individuals obtaining arrested are not necessarily currently being prosecuted. Continue to, arresting just about 4,000 people today about the course of two months for something that need to, by the will of the individuals, be lawful appears to be like a colossal waste of time and sources.
The hold-up is a relatively minor provision in the new marijuana regulations governing at what age possession turns into unlawful. Murphy needs possession for any person under 21 to be illegal and legislators from the state’s towns never want the age restrictions to be an excuse to persecute youthful users of communities of colour. State Senators like Nia Gill (D-Essex) argue, fairly convincingly, that setting the age limit for legality at 21 would give regulation enforcement an justification to implement a ‘modern-day halt and frisk on our small children.”
It is time for Murphy to get in a place, virtual or otherwise, with these legislators and work it out. This was a single of the governor’s signature marketing campaign claims and the invoice to put it in result is sitting down on his desk awaiting a signature while hundreds are nevertheless remaining arrested for one thing that must have by now been legalized.
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